[time-nuts] HP Z3801A Motorola Oncore VP receive...

[Mike Feher]

Thanks for all the info Larry. Also Chuck and Hal. I was not really worried
I just found it a bit odd. I have two Z3801s and one is always on with a
laptop. The display in the old laptop quit, so, now I use a 15" flat screen
monitor connected to the ancient laptop. 73 - Mike

 
 
Mike B. Feher, N4FS
89 Arnold Blvd.
Howell, NJ, 07731
732-886-5960
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
Behalf Of vendors at eshop.uoregon.edu
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2008 12:52 PM
To: time-nuts at febo.com
Subject: [time-nuts] HP Z3801A Motorola Oncore VP receive...

Mike et al:

The first two Motorola Oncore-VP RX's I bought from that eBay seller were 
shipped by TNT courier service, about $30 cost, to my work address with
about
a 5 or 6 day delivery time.  The seller provided a tracking number and I was

able to follow the shipment's progress.  It spent about two days hung up for
custom's clearance.  The seller's current eBay Oncore-VP listing uses Hong
Kong's Air Mail Service, presumably handed off to USPS, at a much lower cost
than TNT.  On my second order for the Oncore-VP with this seller he didn't 
like my PO Box address that I use for Snail Mail and so I gave him my work 
address again.  He also wanted my mobile phone number, but I gave my work 
phone number.  I thought it a bit odd that he said that Hong Kong Air Mail 
Service didn't like PO boxes...  I don't know why that would be since they 
aren't actually delivering it in the US.  Anyway, I've still got two weeks
to
go before expecting delivery on the second order.  Oddly, the seller said 
to my inquiry about tracking numbers that Hong Kong Air Mail Service does 
provide a tracking number -- but I've not been able to get it from the 
seller.  So far he has a 100% feedback rating and he sure gave me good 
service on the first order.  

Further, he has software available for the receivers, but you need to ask 
for it per the instructions in his eBay listing.  

As always with eBay its "Caveat Emptor."  He does have PP Buyer Protection
so along with his 100% feedback rating I'm not too worried.  I can tell you 
that I was greatly relieved when the two receivers fired up FB in my Z3801A!
It did take awhile, even with a position initialization fix, for them to
find
the birds, then get current GPS time, etc.   

As an FYI, be aware (at least in my Z3801A), that the Z3801A's motherboard
firmware doesn't like dates after Dec 31st, 2007.  So if you try to
initialize
the Z3801A with a current date it may complain that its out of range.  Maybe
mine has old firmware and newer units won't complain?  I dunno.  It doesn't 
seem to be a problem -- just slows down the initial acquisition...

Note that it doesn't complain about the current date when acquired by GPS 
sats -- just the input routine for PC provided dates complains.  

--Larry, W7JYJ 

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